366 THALLOPHYTES 
other agents. When located on favorable organic matter, the 
spores grow directly into new mycelia. 
Although Morels spring up quickly, often apparently over 
night, much time is required for the development of the sub- 
terranean mycelium before the aérial portion is developed. No 
sexual reproduction has been discovered 
é in the Morels, and the only spore known 
: is the ascospore. 
oy Some other edible Ascomycetes, which 
p- ie i command high prices in Europe, are the 
m 
Truffles, which belong in the order T'ube- 
rales. The distinctive feature of the 
Truffles is that the ascocarp occurs 
wholly underground. The ascocarp, 
which is tuber-like, is closed except 
for a small opening and the spores are 
released by the decay of its-walls. Since 
they are underground, they are very 
difficult to find, and experts hunt them 
by the aid of trained pigs or dogs which 
detect them through the sense of smell. 
Fig. 316.—Asci(a) of No sexual reproduction has been dis- 
the Morel, showing the covered, but not much is known of their 
ascospores (X about 200). 46, cycle 
The hypha (p) producing : : 
no spores is called a pa- Cup Fungi (Pezizales).— The Cup 
raphysis. Fungi include many species most of 
which are saprophytes. The loose my- 
celium develops in decaying rich humus, decaying wood, or leaf 
mold, and when well established it produces above the surface an 
ascocarp which has the form of a disk, funnel, or cup. Such an 
ascocarp is called an apothectum to distinguish it from other types 
of ascocarps. 
Peziza. — This genus, a species of which is shown in Figure 
817, is common in the woods and the cup-shaped apothecium is 
sometimes 2 or 3 inches across and often brightly colored. In 
one common form the interior of the cup is bright scarlet. The 
interior of the apothecium is lined with a hymenium consisting 
of parallel, sterile, hyphal threads or paraphyses among which 
occur the asci each containing cight spores. By the swelling and 
rupturing of the asci the ripe spores are expelled and then scat- 
